WD6X: Word 6.0 Inserted Symbols Map Incorrectly to MacWord 5.x

ID: q116259

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.x
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 5.x

SYMPTOMS

When you convert a Word 6.x for Windows document to Word 5.x for the Macintosh, incorrect characters may appear in place of the originals. This problem occurs when the document contains extended characters in a font that is based on the ANSI character set and when the characters were inserted by using the Symbol command on the Insert menu. For example, an N tilde capital might instead appear as an O tilde capital.

The same problem occurs if a document 1) is saved as Word for the Macintosh format and opened in Word 5.x for the Macintosh, 2) is opened directly from Word 6.0 format into Word for the Macintosh, or 3) is translated using RTF format.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because when you insert a symbol from any ANSI-based font other than the Normal Text option using the Insert Symbol command, Word 6.0 for Windows retains that symbol in a way that doesn't allow converters to identify the associated character set.

The character mapping routine that would normally map the ANSI character to its visual equivalent in the Macintosh character set is therefore not invoked. Instead, the character number for the original ANSI symbol is directly mapped to the same number on the Macintosh, and whatever Macintosh character exists at that numeric location in the Macintosh character set is displayed in the converted document.

WORKAROUND

Method 1

Insert characters for ANSI-based fonts using the ALT+numeric keypad method instead of the Insert Symbol command. Word will retain characters inserted using the numeric keypad method in a way that allows them to be retained during conversion.

For example, to insert ANSI extended character 193 (the A acute capital), activate the numeric keypad (by pressing the NUM LOCK key on your numeric keypad) and press ALT+0193.

Method 2

If you have already converted a Word 6.0 for Windows document to Word 5.x for the Macintosh format and no longer have access to Word 6.0 for Windows and/or the original Word 6.0 for Windows document, you will need to replace the incorrect characters in Word for the Macintosh.

STATUS

This is a design limitation of Word 6.0 for Windows and is not a problem with the Word 6.0 Converter supplied with the Word 6.0 Converter Kit (for Word 5.x for the Macintosh Users) or the Wordmac.cnv converter used by Word 6.0 for Windows to save as Word 5.x for the Macintosh format.

MORE INFORMATION

The ANSI character set contains 255 symbols. An extended character is a character with a value greater than or equal to 128.

The problem described in this article doesn't affect characters with numeric values of less than 128 because these characters make up the ASCII character subset for which the same characters appear at the same numeric locations in both the ANSI and Macintosh character sets.

This problem does not occur in conversion from Word 2.x for Windows and Word 5.x for the Macintosh because Word 2.x for Windows did not display any other ANSI-based fonts than the "Normal Text" option in the Insert Symbol dialog box.

Some fonts for which this problem occur include:

Algerian
Augsburger Initials
Braggadocio
Colonna MT
Desdemona
Edda
Harrington
Imprint MT Shadow
Kino MT
Onyx
Peignot Medium
Playbill
Ransom
Stencil
Stop

Additional query words: conversion converted converts transfer transfers translation translate problem picture pictures graphic graphics image images pict picts different wrong

Keywords : kbinterop winword macword
Version : MACINTOSH:5.x; WINDOWS:6.x
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug